Tennis Hall of Fame Names New Life Trustees

NEWPORT, R.I. (Nov. 9, 2017) — In recognition of their lengthy and steadfast support of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Hope (Happy) van Beuren and Christopher Clouser have been appointed Life Trustees of the organization.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors, it is a pleasure to present this formal acknowledgement of appreciation to Happy van Beuren and Christopher Clouser for their many outstanding contributions to the betterment of the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” stated ITHF Chairman John Arnhold. “Happy has been both generous and engaged in her efforts to support the Hall of Fame over the years. Chris’ vision for what the Hall of Fame could become, combined with his subsequent commitment to facilitating major improvements to our property and programs, have positioned the organization for a bright future, and to be an impactful partner in Newport and in the global tennis community. Both Happy and Chris have been outstanding leaders and supporters for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and they are most deserving of this honor.”

Happy van Beuren, of Newport, R.I., has been an ardent supporter of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for many years, particularly with regard to the preservation and enhancement of the Hall of Fame’s historic property. She was a leading champion for, and benefactor of, the 2010 restoration of the Casino Theatre on the Hall of Fame property. Through her support, the 300-seat theater was completely restored from an unusable state and returned to its original 1881 grandeur. Today it is a thriving facility, utilized year-round by the Salve Regina University Department of Performing Arts during the school year, and by the Hall of Fame and the local community in the summer months. More recently, van Beuren was key to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s campus-wide transformation. She worked closely with the committee to ensure that the project would extend the Hall of Fame’s footprint in a way that would be in keeping with Newport’s historic aesthetic and be a positive addition to the community as a whole, while also enabling the Hall of Fame to grow in its mission. van Beuren is the Founder and Chair Emerita of the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, which has a mission of investing in the quality of life and quality of place of Aquidneck Island and surrounding communities.

Christopher Clouser of Wellington, Fla. is the immediate past Chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, having served for eight years, through 2015. His term as Chairman was preceded by two years as Chairman of the Executive Committee and three prior years as a member of the board. A lifelong tennis player and fan, Clouser was a visionary leader for the Hall of Fame, fostering significant growth in many areas of the organization. In addition to his role as Chairman, he also served as co-chair of the Match Point Capital Campaign, an $18 million project that transformed the Hall of Fame property. The capital campaign resulted in a completely renovated, state-of-the-art museum, expanded and improved tennis club, and a new grandstand in the stadium, all of which opened greater opportunities for new programming to deliver on the organization’s mission of preserving and promoting tennis history and celebrating its champions. In addition, throughout his years of service, Clouser also spearheaded many important initiatives to shape a bright future for the Hall of Fame, including a focus on growing international programming and partnerships, and a successful bid to earn accreditation of the museum by the American Alliance of Museums.

For additional information about the International Tennis Hall of Fame, please visit www.tennisfame.com